Nicosia: The next Asian Games may be brought forward a year to avoid a clash with presidential elections in Indonesia, a senior official told AFP on Thursday.
Indonesia, who are likely to be announced as the next hosts on September 20, have asked to move the tournament from 2019 to 2018, he said.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the powerful body behind the Asian Games, originally slated the event to be held in 2019 to make it one year before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“Indonesia requested if the 18th Asian Games can be held in 2018 instead,” OCA director general Hussain Al Musallam told AFP.
“OCA is studying what is the best for the Asian Games and will decide in September,” he added.
Incheon in South Korea will host the 17th Asian Games, usually a quadrennial tournament, from September 19.
Indonesia are the front-runners to organise the next edition after selected hosts Vietnam withdrew because of financial reasons.
“Indonesia has sent a complete file which is in accordance with the Asian Games’ technical requirement, is cost-effective and goes with the country and city plan,” Musallam said.
“Indonesia has successfully organised a couple of Asian Games events in the past: the Asian Games in 1962 and Asian Beach Games in 2008,” he added.
